Israeli forces detain 15 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank

April 19, 2017 10:41 A.M. (Updated: April 19, 2017 11:32 P.M.)

(File)

HEBRON (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained at least 15 Palestinians, including two minors, in the occupied West Bank between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources.

In the southern occupied West Bank district of Hebron, Israeli forces detained two Palestinians from the town of Beit Ummar during predawn raids.

Awad added that Israeli forces also raided and searched the house of 50-year-old Ahmad Khalil Abed Abu Hisham, and smashed the doors of his house. Israeli soldiers posted a notice ordering Abu Hisham to meet with the Israeli intelligence at the Etzion detention center for interrogation.

An Israeli army spokesperson only confirmed on detention in Beit Ummar.

Meanwhile, in the Hebron area town of Yatta, two Palestinians were detained, identified by local sources as Muhammad Kamal Daoud and Moussa Jamal Daoud.

According to an Israeli army spokesperson, two alleged “Hamas operatives” were also detained in Hebron city, while one Palestinian was detained in the village of Beit Ula in the northwestern outskirts of the Hebron district.

Locals identified one of the detainees from Hebron city as Mustafa Ubeido.

In the central Jerusalem district, Israeli forces detained four Palestinians, one in Bir Nabala who was not identified, one identified as Tawfiq Khalil Affaneh in the town of Abu Dis, as well as Khalil Dandan and Maher Affaneh elsewhere in the district.

The Israeli army spokesperson confirmed one detention in Abu Dis and one in Bir Nabala.

Two Palestinians were also detained in the town of Silwad in the central Ramallah district overnight, according to Israeli police spokesperson Luba al-Samri, who said a rifle and arms were found in their vehicle.

The Israeli army also reported that a weapon and ammunition were seized during a raid into the town of Dhinnabain the northern occupied West Bank district of Tulkarem.

(Israeli army spokesperson)

(Israeli army spokesperson)

Separately, Israeli forces detained two Palestinians in Beit Jala in the southern Bethlehem district late Tuesday night, for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at a border guard patrol.

Al-Samri said that Molotov cocktails were thrown at Israeli border guards near Tunnels street, a road that leads from Beit Jala into occupied East Jerusalem, secured by an Israeli military checkpoint that restricts movement for Palestinians to those holding special permits. No injuries were reported.

She said that the two Palestinians were from al-Duheisha refugee camp in south side of the Bethlehem district. Al-Samri said several Molotov cocktails were found in a bag one of the two was carrying.

(Israeli police spokesperson)

Approximately 6,300 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, including some 300 minors, and 500 Palestinians who have not been charged or tried, according to Palestinian prisoners’ rights group Addameer.

Detention raids saw a marked decrease over the past week, which aligned with the Jewish holiday of Passover, when Israeli forces detained some 30 Palestinians between April 10 and 17 at a daily average of under four detentions, according to Ma’an documentation.